The News of the World's ex-royal editor Clive Goodman, a defendant on the ongoing trial at the Old Bailey, has spoken out saying:

"The police knew about the hacking of Prince William and Prince Harry, the CPS knew, and they were the ones that chose they wanted to ringfence the enquiry so they didn't embarrass members of the royal family.

"Those members of the royal family have been embarrassed by this trial" The Guardian reports.

The former editor hacked Kate Middleton's voicemail in December 2005, listening to messages on December 21st, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. He hacked it again in August 2006 on the day before he was first arrested over allegations of phone-hacking.

"She was a figure of increasing importance around the royal family," Goodman said under cross-examination.

"There were discussions about her and Prince William marrying, moving in, settling down. She started to receive semi-royal status and things were moving on."

Goodman has also admitted to hacking Prince William's phone 35 times and Prince Harry's nine times.

"I'm really not the slightest bit proud of this," he said. "I don't want anyone to think I'm not ashamed."

Goodman is one of seven defendants currently on trial at the Old Bailey for phone-hacking and, naturally, the royals are "embarrassed" by this whole ordeal.